Press Releases

Guantanamo Update: Involving Local Leaders in the Process

“Whether or not Congress sees a plan to close Guantanamo, the law is crystal clear: zero transfers to the United States. Period. Any attempt of the president to violate the law on this issue would trample our constitutional fabric of separation of powers, disregard the will of the American people, and play politics with American safety and security. Assuming the president signs the NDAA this week—and we have every indication that he will—he cannot then suddenly choose to defy a law that he has consistently observed in the past.

We know that the people of Colorado have huge concerns about the risk of bringing known terrorists to our state, as shown by recent letters to Obama from our Attorney General as well as two-thirds of our county sheriffs. That’s why I’m writing to the Secretary of Defense this week, along with Congressman Buck and Congressman Tipton, to ask that he allow Colorado federal, state, and local officials be allowed to visit Guantanamo. This will allow those who would be most directly affected to better understand the local impacts of such a dangerous move. I can’t imagine that the president is willing to mandate something with such grave and far-reaching consequences without any local input.”